Finance and accounting degree course guide

What does it cover?

Finance and accounting degrees give students the combination of the technical and background knowledge and skills that they will need as the basis of careers either in professions such as accountancy or in the wider commercial sector. These degrees cover both the technicalities and conventions governing how wealth is measured and also how accounting and finance influence and shape the way organisations behave. Economics and statistics are often central to developing this understanding.

Although accounting in particular is seen as emphasising computational and calculation skills, the modern academic subject of finance and accounting is far broader.

Near the start of their courses, students are likely to encounter modules introducing them to accounting, to statistical and mathematical methods, and to macro and microeconomics. Information technology skills also tend to be emphasised.

As the courses go on, a range of other modules are made available, including ones on taxation, audit, business strategy, business and employment law, management accounting, advanced accounting theory and risk management. Further optional modules range from behavioural economics to international taxation practice.

Students usually have the chance to complete a major research project towards the end of their courses, while many degrees allow you to spend a year on an industrial placement, which many students find useful both in building knowledge and skills and developing employment contacts.

Finance and accounting degrees often come with an endorsement from the major professional bodies for accountants, such as the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. This means that graduates can be exempted from having to take certain papers within the exams these organisations set for people wanting to go on to become chartered accountants, depending on the topics they studied during the degree course.

What can you expect?

A course which goes beyond the quantitative techniques which are central to accountancy to embrace a powerful range of subjects needed to understand business.

What are the usual A-levels you need?

These degrees are frequently not specific about the A-level required, but students with maths will be in a strong position.

Do grades matter?

Grade demands are often not as exacting as some science courses. Offers from the more selective universities tend to be in the range AAA to BBC.

Career prospects

The obvious links to the financial sector mean that graduates have a range of potentially well-paid employment options available to them. Many will go to one of the "big four" accountancy firms, where they can complete professional accountancy training, while others take their knowledge and skills into management consultancy, risk management and audit, wider business and management, banking or local and national government.

Top places to study

The Complete University Guide rates Bath, Warwick, the London School of Economics, Lancaster and Strathclyde as the top five universities for accounting and finance according to an index based on student satisfaction, entry standards, an assessment of the quality of the university's research and graduate prospects.

Communication and media studies degree course guide

Students tend to enjoy this course more than most, although be warned: media jobs are by no means guaranteed at the end of it.?Photo: Jim Ryce/Rex Features

"With telephone and TV it is not so much the message as the sender that is 'sent.'" Marshall McLuhan

What qualification do you leave with?

Most media-related programmes are awarded with BA degrees but volume of opportunities to study contemporary culture and mass communication with complimentary areas of study mean that there's a variety of courses available.

Standard degree length is three years.

What does it cover?

Cardiff University's BA in Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies gives students a background in mass communication, the major theories of journalism along with criticism of popular culture and conducting media research. Cardiff's reputation as a centre of excellence for journalism is underlined by its involvement in projects such research for our own columnist Peter Oborne's Channel 4 documentary about Islamophobia (see pamphlet) and its help with investigative reporter Nick Davies' must-read book Flat Earth News. The University of East Anglia runs a number of highly-rated courses which combine disciplines such as the BA in Politics and Media which studies the reporting and presentation of politics and could prepare students to be the next Jeremy Bowen. Such has been the expansion and diversification in media in recent decades that its possible to specialise in a many different disciplines and platforms. The University of Worcester's creative digital media programme prepares students for the increasing domination of online and IT-based media with its modules in web design, 3D animation and a mandatory course in digital film production.

What can you expect?

From the fame-hungry to the tech-savvy, the influence and popularity of all kinds of media makes defining a stereotypical student or generic department an impossible job.

What are the usual A-levels you need?

Requirements differ from institution to institution but students are often asked to bring a portfolio with them to interview and should be prepared to sound passionate about the media. Confidence and an entrepreneurial streak can be the most useful assets students can call on.

Career prospects

Unsurprisingly, as the media's role has grown in society so have the legions of people who want a media-related career. Though degrees are essential for many posts, it is rare that degrees alone will allow you to waltz into a post, so be prepared to show off your X factor at every opportunity.

Top places to study

The latest Complete University Guide (published in April 2011) rates Warwick, UEA, Nottingham Trent, Sheffield and Sussex as the top five universities for this subject according to an index based on student satisfaction, entry standards, an assessment of the quality of the university's research; and graduate prospects.

Non-Euro mod lang degree course guide

This course offer students the chance to get to grips with the language and cultures of a major non-European country or countries?Photo: Jeff Blackler/Rex Features

"Any man who does not make himself proficient in at least two languages other than his own is a fool." Martin H. Fischer

What qualification do you leave with?

Usually a BA. Scottish universities typically offer MAs.

What does it cover?

Chinese courses seem likely to grow in popularity, as the country's economic boom drives new career opportunities for British graduates with linguistic capabilities. Degrees vary in the extent to which they emphasise contemporary Chinese – Leeds offers a course entitled "modern Chinese" – or the language in its classical form: London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) expects all students to study classical Chinese alongside the modern form for at least two years. Generally, options allow students to focus on subjects ranging from art and archaeology to literature and religion, and there are also chances to learn about Chinese business and enterprise.

Japanese is said to be one of the world's hardest languages, its lack of connection and similarity with English making it a challenging subject for many. Students on most courses will grapple with reading and writing the characters of the Japanese language, while building fluency in conversation, grammar and comprehension. Japanese degrees generally give undergraduates the chance to explore both the ancient origins of Japanese culture and its hi-tech contemporary expression, as well as taking modules on linguistics, the politics of Japan and its neighbours, and, in some cases, on the language and culture of proximate societies including China, Korea and Thailand.

Students wanting to immerse themselves in the language, cultures and often conflict-laden histories of the Indian subcontinent have a range of courses to choose from. At SOAS, South Asian Studies covers India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, with undergraduates specialising in one of six languages. At Edinburgh, students can take South Asian Studies in combination either with Social Anthropology or Sociology. At Leeds, a range of joint honours degrees cover South East Asian Studies, embracing Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia. SOAS also offers courses in languages including Burmese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean, while Sheffield also offers Korean.

Undergraduates attracted to the language and civilisations of the Middle East also have a range of possible destinations. Arabic – language, culture, history and politics – is taught at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester and SOAS, all of which also offer Persian, while Oxford, Manchester, SOAS and King's College London teach Turkish. Hebrew is taught at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews and University College London. Middle Eastern Studies is offered by universities including Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester.

Finally, students can take a degree in African studies at either Birmingham or at SOAS. Academics at Birmingham have particular expertise in West Africa, but the course covers the entire continent, including the historic relationship with Europe, the experience of the African diaspora in the Caribbean and the interaction of African peoples with Islam. Students also get the chance to learn the West African language of Yoruba. At SOAS, Yoruba is one of six languages taught, with the focus being on the culture, history and politics of sub-Saharan Africa.

What to expect

A chance to focus on any of a huge range of cultures, with language learning usually central.

What are the usual A-levels you need?

Generally, an A-levels in the language to be studied is not required, with universities expecting that most students will begin language learning from scratch. In some cases, a language degree of some sort is preferred. Universities often make requirements of higher grades at GCSE in subjects such as English, maths and a language.

Career prospects

Modern linguists are generally in demand, and the small numbers of students taking many of these degrees will give them highly specialised skills in the jobs market. Graduates emerging with knowledge of the language and societies of countries including China, Japan and India will find business opportunities associated with the trade the UK does with these powerful economies. Graduates from the featured subjects also find work in non government organisations such as the United Nations, Oxfam and other charities, in the civil and diplomatic services, in teaching and in journalism.

Top places to study

The Complete University Guide rates Cambridge, Oxford, the School of Oriental and African Studies, Cardiff and Nottingham as the top five universities for East and South Asian Studies (including Chinese and Japanese) according to an index based on student satisfaction; entry standards; an assessment of the quality of the university's research; and graduate prospects. The guide does not provide ratings for other subjects listed here.

Other modern European languages degree course guide

Modern linguists are generally in demand, thanks to their ability to communicate where others fail?Photo: Markku Ulander/Rex Features

"Language is the dress of thought." Samuel Johnson

What qualification do you leave with?

Usually a BA. Scottish universities typically offer MAs

What does it cover?

Portuguese, Scandinavian and Russian/Eastern European studies enable students to get to grips with languages and cultures which are less widely-studied in the UK. This potentially gives graduates in these subjects scarcity value for employers, while often these courses benefit from having small teaching groups. All these courses include linguistic study, from beginner level, throughout the degree, and also offer a year abroad at university, working in a school or on work placement.

Portuguese, which outside the universities of Oxford and Cambridge is usually offered in combination with another subject in a joint honours degree, gives students the chance to acquire fluency in the language, histories, literature, film and wider culture not only of Portugal, but of Brazil and of African nations including Angola and Mozambique. It is also possible to study Portuguese as part of Hispanic Studies courses which also embrace Spanish language and culture. (See Spanish/Hispanic Studies).

Scandinavian Studies courses are available at the universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and University College London. Students get the chance to learn Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, while encountering the literature of their specialist country from the Middle Ages to the modern period, studying the history and politics of the region and being given the chance to specialise in aspects ranging from linguistics to music. Specialist options include "The Enlightenment in Scandinavia", "Ingmar Bergman and cinema" and "Nordic welfare states and social democracy". UCL also offers modules covering Finland and Iceland, and a course in Viking Studies.

Russian/Eastern European studies is more widely offered, and allows students to investigate these rapidly developing though persistently enigmatic societies, their often traumatic histories and their rich cultural backgrounds. Students will be able to select options including a focus on Russian writers including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, on modern Russian history, on individual personal experiences of the Soviet regime and, in some courses, to take complementary language study in Czech, Polish or Ukrainian.

European Studies tends to emphasise contemporary continental politics and history, which students can study while building fluency in one or two European languages. Some courses, such as that at University College London, also offer students the chance to specialise in aspects of European civilisation much wider than politics, including anthropology, law, philosophy and urban planning, while modules taught at the University of Essex include "sociology of the new Europe" and "art, sex and death in 18th century Europe". Students will also learn about the institutions and politics of the European Union.

What to expect

A chance to follow your interests in learning about fascinating cultures less commonly investigated in this country.

What are the usual A-levels you need?

These degrees tend not to insist on the relevant language at A-level, as they offer teaching in the subject for beginner linguists. Teaching is, however, generally tailored so that those who do have proficiency will be taught at a higher linguistic level in the degree's initial years. Many courses require or prefer a language of some kind at A-level. Good GCSE grades in English, maths and sometimes a language are also often stipulated.

Career prospects

Modern linguists are generally in demand, and those fluent in either Portuguese, in Scandinavian languages or in Eastern European languages have the added advantage that their skills are relatively rarely found in Britain. Graduates with Portuguese, benefiting from the language's connection with Brazil, and Russian linguists, will gain in particular from the fast-developing opportunities associated with these countries' booming economies. Graduates in these subjects find work as translators/interpreters, in international companies, in journalism and broadcasting, in teaching and in the civil and diplomatic services. European Studies graduates are particularly well-placed to work within the institutions of the European Union.

Top places to study

The Complete University Guide rates Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, St Andrews and Bath as the top five universities for Iberian Languages according to an index based on student satisfaction, entry standards, an assessment of the quality of the university's research and graduate prospects. For Russian and East European Languages, the guide's top-ranked universities are Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Exeter and Bristol. The guide does not provide ratings for Scandinavian Studies and European Studies.

Other creative arts: film studies/photography, craft, imaginative writing degree course guide

Craft BAs tend to last three years. FdA craft courses usually take two years.

Imaginative writing degrees usually last three years.

What does it cover?

The emphasis in film-related courses tends to vary, depending on the institution, between developing a more academic understanding of cinema and the moving image, and hands-on practical work creating films. Examples of the former approach include the course at Southampton, where modules on "early silent cinema from 1825 to 1928" and "utopian and dystopian science fiction cinema" compete for students' attention beside practical work in a modern video production suite. Courses in film production and cinematography, by contrast, see much more emphasis on building vocational skills of production, directing and editing. Nevertheless, almost all courses include both theoretical/critical and practical modules.

Photography courses tend to have the development of students' photographic skills at their core, with critical, contextual and historical modules used in support to build students' analytical understanding. Courses often culminate in a final degree show of students' work. At universities including Leeds and Roehampton, undergraduates can combine film studies and photography.

Craft degrees can be categorised as those offering the chance to follow an initially broad-based course, such as in design crafts or three dimensional design, and then to specialise within that course; and those targeted throughout at a specialist craft field, including jewellery, furniture design, textiles, theatrical design and embroidery. Most will combine extensive technical and practical work with more theoretical or conceptual study, interaction with current professionals including work placements, and often the opportunity to showcase your work in a degree show.

Creative writing degrees focus on building students' literary and imaginative skills, with guidance not only from course tutors – many of whom will be professional writers themselves – but often from visiting writers and through discussion with fellow students in workshops. Students will also explore the work of established writers through extensive reading. Britain also boasts several scriptwriting degrees, embracing writing for the theatre and radio alongside television and film, as well as courses focused specifically on writing for the screen. Again, the approach is to focus on developing individual writing capability, while developing background understanding of the craft. Workplace placements are often central to these courses.

What can you expect?

The chance to develop practical creative skills while building theoretical and background knowledge. This will prepare many graduates for a place in Britain's established and often thriving creative industries.

What are the usual A-levels you need?

Film studies/photography: universities often prefer candidates to have passed an A-level in English or a media or arts-related subject. There is a strong chance they will want to interview you, too, and you may be asked to provide examples of your creative work.

Craft: some universities prefer candidates to have an A-level or equivalent in art and design or a related subject. Some require students to have taken a foundation course. Many students will be interviewed, and it is routine for candidates to have to produce examples of their work.

Imaginative writing: students can expect to be interviewed, while many universities also ask for examples of their creative writing. Some universities require or prefer undergraduates to have achieved success in English Literature A-level or in wider arts/humanities A-levels.

Career prospects

Film studies/photography. Though there is high competition for entry to the visual industries, they also provide varied career opportunities. Students with experience and flair in visual arts get work in film production, screenwriting, advertising, the video games industry, web design, journalism, and commercial, architectural, art and fashion photography.

Craft: these are vocationally-orientated degrees, preparing undergraduates to put their skills to use in the commercial or artistic worlds, so students generally tend to seek employment directly related to that field, from jewellery to furniture design.

Imaginative writing: some creative writing students do go on to become professional writers of fiction, although this is a highly competitive field. Others go into newspaper and magazine journalism, the book trade, library and archivist work and lecturing, or into the less directly related careers of web design, marketing and publicity and administration. Script/screenwriting students go into writing for TV, film and radio, as well as working in the computer game field, in script reading and editing and in wider careers in the media and communications.